User:Jbhunley/How to edit talk pages

Brief tutorial on editing talk pages

Welcome to editing at Wikipedia. Wikipedia is a collaborative project where "anyone can edit" so much of what is done will require discussion with other editors. The way that is done is via Talk pages. This is meant to give you the basics of how to begin using them properly. Detailed instructions can be found at Help:Talk pages.

---

==Starts a new topic==

When you are replying to a post indent one level greater than the text you are replying to using a ':' like this -

First comment
:First Reply
::Reply to First Reply
:::Reply to Reply to First Reply
::Another reply to First Reply
:Second Reply
::Reply to Second Reply
:Third Reply

Some discussions use bullets (*):
*Bullet point
*:Indent beneath bullet without another bullet point.
:* Versus an indented bullet point
** Or a double bullet. 

Always make sure to start your text in the first column of the page. Otherwise
 it looks like this

To link to an article page enclose it in double brackets; [[Bucharest]] or it's talk page [[Talk:Bucharest]]

To make a diff get its URL from the article history or a user's contribution page and enclose it in single brackets. You can add optional text after the URL and before the closing bracket.

My first edit [//en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arabic_language&diff=prev&oldid=415175260]

My [//en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arabic_language&diff=prev&oldid=415175260 first] edit

You can also use the built in ''Special:Diff'' page: My [[Special:Diff/415175260|first edit]].

You can send a notification (ping) to a user by [[User:Example|Example User]], {{u|Example}} or {{ping|Example}}.  There is no real difference other than how they look on the page. They all will send a notification (ping) to the user  — the notification will only work if you sign the comment with <code>~~~~</code>. It is also possible to link a user without sending a notification by using {{noping|Example}}. You should not ping users repeatedly, if you are already in discussion with them or if you know they are watching the page.

To break up your text into paragraphs:

Write some stuff. Then end your paragraph with. {{pb}} Then continue writing another paragraph. This will automatically keep your text properly indented.
::Otherwise make sure you leave a blank line between paragraphs and indent the next paragraph.

::Like this.

There are several ways you can modify the displayed text: You can {{strike|strike out text}} and you can {{underline|underline text}} as well at ''emphasize what you write'', '''make it display in bold'''and make it <small>smaller</small>. On talk pages some of these are used in specific ways. For instance;  If you edit your talk page comment after it has been posted for more than a few minutes you should {{strikethrough|strike out the text you want to delete}}, {{underline|underline the text you want to add}}. <small>(You should '''never''' edit another editor's talk page comments. [[WP:REDACT]] discusses this in more detail.)</small>; and ''can be used for general emphasis'' but '''is generally considered yelling'''.

Finally, you ''must'' sign your comment with:  ~~~~

---

The above text will look like this on the talk page:

Starts a new topic

When you are replying to a post indent one level greater than the text you are replying to using a ':' like this -

First comment

First Reply

Reply to First Reply

Reply to Reply to First Reply

Another reply to First Reply

Second Reply

Reply to Second Reply

Third Reply

Some discussions use bullets (*):

• Bullet point

  Indent beneath bullet without another bullet point.

• Versus an indented bullet point

• • Or a double bullet.

Always make sure to start your text in the first column of the page. Otherwise

it looks like this

To link to an article page enclose it in double brackets; Bucharest or it's talk page Talk:Bucharest

To make a diff get its URL from the article history or a user's contribution page and enclose it in single brackets. You can add optional text after the URL and before the closing bracket.

My first edit [1]

My first edit

You can also use the built in Special:Diff page: My first edit.

You can send a notification (ping) to a user by Example User, Example or @Example:. There is no real difference other than how they look on the page. They all will send a notification (ping) to the user — the notification will only work if you sign the comment with ~~~~. It is also possible to link a user without sending a notification by using Example. You should not ping users repeatedly, if you are already in discussion with them or if you know they are watching the page.

To break up your text into paragraphs:

Write some stuff. Then end your paragraph with.

Then continue writing another paragraph. This will automatically keep your text properly indented.

Otherwise make sure you leave a blank line between paragraphs and indent the next paragraph.

Like this.

There are several ways you can modify the displayed text: You can strike out text and you can underline text as well at emphasize what you write, make it display in bold and make it smaller. On talk pages some of these are used in specific ways. For instance; If you edit your talk page comment after it has been posted for more than a few minutes you should strike out the text you want to delete, underline the text you want to add. (You should never edit another editor's talk page comments. WP:REDACT discusses this in more detail.); and can be used for general emphasis but is generally considered yelling.

Finally, you must sign your comment with: Example^Talk 16:59, 2 March 2018 (UTC)

---

This is just a quick and dirty way to get you up to speed on editing on talk pages. You can get more information at Simplest Diff Guide, Talk Page Guidelines and Wiki Markup. If what is said here contradicts anything those documents say follow them not this.